Enthusiasm’s New Standard

Enthusiasm: The Dynamite That Breaks Loose Log Jams

Steve, an Optimization Standard Coordinator with a sawmill equipment manufacturing company, told Session 9 of the Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

“Since the start of Turbo’s Leadership Development Lab, my enthusiasm has been building. After Session 7, the 5x More Enthusiasm session, I bit the bullet and decided to put 5x more energy into creating standard parts and drawing styles. Due to the history of our parent company acquiring several different manufacturers across North America, there are several facilities that manufacture our scanner systems. Each has their own method and style of building the scanners and how the Bill of Materials (BOM) are created.

“My team, the standards group, now handles the drawings and BOMs for all the scanning products produced company wide. This has been difficult with the traditions, histories and differences in approach of the various production facilities. My desire has always been to have a unified system for drawings and production methods. This would allow the standards team to produce one consistent drawing set which would include the BOM to be built at all facilities without issue and without scanner systems looking different when they’re complete.

“This is where the 5x more enthusiasm comes into play. I called a virtual meeting with all appropriate leaders and key players in this process and spelled out the challenges that result from having these differences, and the benefit we would gain by having documented standards implemented in this area of our operation. There was quick buy-in. We all agreed to our part in creating standard based parts and drawing styles. I realized in the process of putting 5x more energy into this task that others also put more energy

and excitement into their part of the process. This has propelled the whole process forward much easier and faster than if I was just applied my normal quotient of enthusiasm. It’s exciting to see the changes in the works and how we are improving the entire production process from drawings to system production completion.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is that when I put 5x more energy into something I’m passionate about, it can cause others to jump on board and like dynamite in a log jam, break free old projects that have gotten stuck.

“The action I call you to take is, go into action even if it is something you think will be hard to get others to buy-in to. When you put 5x more enthusiasm into your projects it will inspire others around you and create enthusiasm in them. You will create a ripple effect that has no end.

“The benefit you will gain is change in areas of frustration where you thought nothing would ever change. You will gain a sense of personal empowerment as you see your team experience the fulfillment and meaning that achievement always brings.”